Guest Blog: Secondary Characters by Carolyn Smith

Caroline Clemmons writes paranormal, historical and contemporary romance. Her latest release, the time travel OUT OF THE BLUE, is available from The Wild Rose Press. In addition to being mom to two daughters, Caroline’s work experience includes newspaper reporter and featured columnist, assistant to the managing editor of a psychology journal, and bookkeeper.  Caroline and her husband are living happily ever after on a small acreage rural North Central Texas.  She loves to hear from readers at www.carolineclemmons.com. Check her blog at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com for prize giveaways, author interviews, book reviews, writing tips, and miscellaneous topic.

Part of the fun in writing is creating interesting secondary characters. Secondary characters don’t have to be bigger than life or appear perfect. The author can play with these guys and make them zany or annoying or heroic. Carefully balance creating characters that are memorable and interesting without letting them steal the spotlight from the hero and heroine. Let’s take a moment and think of some famous secondary characters in film and books.

Clayton Moore as Lone Ranger

Gabby Hayes – Roy Rogers

Robin – Batman

Hawk – Spencer (Robert B. Parker)

Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz – Lucille Ball

The characters I listed above provide different qualities to the story. Tonto, for instance, is a trusted assistant but the poor man also functioned as maid, cook, and messenger. His job was hard and definitely not politically correct—although at the time the stories began, Tonto was chosen to portray the Lone Ranger was open-minded and fair.

Gabby Hayes’ function was comic relief. When the story was as tense as Roy Rogers’ stories ever got, Gabby injected a laugh or a pearl of wisdom. As a child, I loved Roy Rogers but always hoped Gabby Hayes would be a part of the movie.

Currently, Robin functions as an assistant crime fighter being trained by his mentor, Batman. The television series starring Adam West as Batman focused attention back to this duo. I believe the adults who’d read the comic books were the greatest fans. In the movies, Robin has been portrayed with more backbone, but he’s still a favorite secondary character. The duo who began as a spoof on homosexuality has become mainstream.

Robert B. Parker’s Hawk is one of my favorites. Since Spencer has to abide by the rules of his P.I. license, Hawk is the go-to guy for the gray areas. Hawk is not afraid to cross the line—any line. The multi-purpose assistant is a common theme in crime stories, cozies, and romantic suspense. Look at Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. Stephanie has her policeman boyfriend Joe Martelli to consult on legal matters as well as cozy matters. Ranger, though, can get things done with no-questions-asked.

Ethel Mertz functioned as a calming influence when Lucille Ball overreacted—which was always! Ethel couldn’t keep Lucy out of trouble, but she tried at the same time she was Lucy’s best friend. Ethel is a perfect secondary character for one of today’s romantic comedies. She was a reluctant partner-in-chaos.

But those types of secondary character—with the possible exception of Ethel Mertz—are not really the sort I want to talk about today. We are discussing the secondary characters who (1) are confidantes/mentors, (2) who facilitate the plot, or (3) who turn into a leading character in the next book of a series.

(1)     In your story, no matter how secretive the hero or heroine, there might be one person who advises and mentors the protagonist. I’ll use movies “Sleepless In Seattle” since you’ve probably all seen that movie. Meg Ryan has Rosie O’Donnell as advisor/confidante. Tom Hanks has Rob Reiner, plus Tom also has his son urging him to action. The confidante/advisor allows the exposition of details that might be boring in narrative or an info dump. They give the opportunity for humor, such as when Rob Reiner explains modern dating to Tom Hanks or hundreds of letters arrive because of Tom Hanks’ son’s character.

(2)     Yoda is the perfect facilitator. He counsels, but takes little part in the action. This character might also be a priest, minister, or family friend. A protagonist goes to the facilitator when seeking help with a decision or quest. Another facilitator might be off-stage in guise of a benefactor whose legacy is the inciting incident. Jodi Thomas’ TWISTED CREEK springs to mind. The main character, Allie, inherits a lakeside home/store in a small community from a man she’d never met or heard of. Her arrival launches this wonderful story set in West Texas near my hometown of Lubbock.

(3)     Series are always interesting because they give readers a chance to continue with secondary characters they love. In book one, Jake could be the hero’s brother or best friend. In the second book, Jake becomes the hero, but readers continue to learn about the couple from the first book.  Sometimes authors who didn’t plan a series receive a good reaction to a secondary character and write a linked book. For instance, in my upcoming September release, THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, the heroine’s brother, Finn O’Neill, is a complex man. My editor asked for a book with Finn as hero. You can be certain I’ll be happy to comply as soon as possible.

A good secondary character exposes the best qualities of the hero/heroine. The secondary character also encourages the hero/heroine. In a crisis, the secondary character may mediate.  Whether you want a series or not, create secondary characters who interest the reader. But be careful your secondary characters don’t steal the show from the hero and heroine! That’s why they’re called “secondary characters.”